A. Policy Statement
B. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Definition
C. Pupil Expectations
D. Consequences and Appropriate Remedial Actions
E. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Off School Grounds
F. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Reporting Procedure
G. Anti-Bullying Coordinator, Anti-Bulling Specialist and School Safety Team(s)
H. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Investigation
I. Range of Responses to an Incident of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying
J. Reprisal or Retaliation Prohibited
K. Consequences and Appropriate Remedial Action for Fale Accusation
L. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Policy Publication and Dissemination
M. Harassment, Intimidation, and bullying Training and Prevention Programs
N. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Policy Reevaluation, Reassessment and Review
O. Reports to Board of Eduation and New Jersey Department of Education
P. Reports to Law Enforcement
Q. Collective Bargaining Agreements and Individual Contracts
R. Pupils with Disabilities
A. Policy Statement
The
Board of Education prohibits acts of harassment, intimidation, or
bullying of a pupil. A safe and civil environment in school is necessary
for pupils to learn and achieve high academic standards. Harassment,
intimidation, or bullying, like other disruptive or violent behaviors,
is conduct that disrupts both a pupil's ability to learn and a school's
ability to educate its pupils in a safe and disciplined environment.
since pupils learn by example, school administrators, faculty, staff and
volunteers should be commended for demonstrating appropriate behavior,
treating others with civility and respect, and refusing to tolerate
harassment, intimidation, or bullying.
For
the purposes of this Policy, the term "parent", pursuant to N.J.A.C.
6A:16-1.3, means the natural parent(s) or adoptive parent(s), legal
guardian(s), foster parent(s), or parent surrogate(s) of a pupil. Where
parents are separated or divorced, "parent" means the person or agency
which has legal custody of the pupil, as well as the natural or adoptive
parent(s) of the pupil, provided such parental rights have not been
terminated by a court of appropriate jurisdiction.
B. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Definition
"Harassment,
intimidation, or bullying" means any gesture, any written, verbal or
physical act, or any electronic communication, as defined in N.J.S.A.
18A:37-14, whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents
that:
1.
Is reasonably perceived as being motivated by either any actual or
perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry,
national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and
expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability; or
2. By any other distinguishing characteristic; and that
3.
Takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a
school bus, or off school grounds, as provided for in N.J.S.A.
18A:37-15.3, that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly
operation of the school or the rights of other pupils; and that
4.
A reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, that the
act(s) will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a pupil
or damaging the pupil's property, or placing a pupil in reasonable fear
of physical or emotional harm to his/her person or damage to his/her
property; or
5. Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any pupil or group of pupils; or
6.
Creates a hostile educational environment for the pupil by interfering
with a pupil's education or by severely or pervasively causing physical
or emotional harm to the pupil.
"Electronic
communication" means a communication transmitted by means of an
electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, cellular
phone, computer, or pager.
C. Pupil Expectations
The
Board expects pupils to conduct themselves in keeping with their levels
of development, maturity and demonstrated capabilities with proper
regard for the rights and welfare of other pupils and school staff, the
educational purpose underlying all school activities and the care of school facilities and equipment consistent with the Code of Pupil Conduct.
The
Board believes that standards for pupil behavior must be set
cooperatively through interaction among the pupils, parents, school
employees, school administrators, school volunteers, and community
representatives, producing an atmosphere that encourages pupils to grow
in self-discipline. The development of this atmosphere requires respect
for self and others, as well as for school district and community
property on the part of pupils, staff, and community members.
Pupils
are expected to behave in a way that creates a supportive learning
environment. The Board believes the best discipline is self-imposed, and
it is the responsibility of staff to use instances of violations of the
Code of Pupil Conduct as opportunities to help pupils learn to assume
and accept responsibility for their behavior and the consequences of
their behavior. Staff members who interact with pupils shall apply best
practices designed to prevent pupil conduct problems and foster pupils'
abilities to grow in self-discipline.
The
Board expects that pupils will act in accordance with the pupil
behavioral expectations and standards regarding harassment,
intimidation, and bullying, including:
1.
Pupil responsibilities (e.g., requirements for pupils to conform to
reasonable standards of socially accepted behavior; respect the person,
property and rights of others; obey constituted authority; and respond
to those who hold that authority);
2. Appropriate recognition for positive reinforcement for good
conduct, self-discipline, and good citizenship;
3. Pupil rights; and
4. Sanctions and due process for violations of the Code of Pupil Conduct.
Pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 18A:37-15(a) and N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1(a)1, the district has
involved a broad-base of school and community members, including
parents, pupils, instructional staff, pupil support services staff,
school administrators, and school volunteers, as well as community
organizations, such as faith-based, health and human service, business
and law enforcement, in the development of this Policy. Based on locally
determined and accepted core ethical values adopted by the Board,
pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16.7.1(a)2, the Board must develop guidelines
for pupil conduct pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1 These guidelines for
pupil conduct will take into consideration the developmental ages of
pupils, the severity of the offenses and pupils' histories of
inappropriate behaviors, and the mission and physical facilities of the
individual school(s) in the district. This Policy requires all pupils in
the district to adhere to the rules established by the school district and to submit to the remedial and consequential measures that are appropriately assigned for infractions of these rules.
Pursuant
to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1, the Superintendent must annually provide to
pupils and their parents or guardians the rules of the district
regarding pupil conduct. Provisions shall be made for informing parents
or guardians whose primary language is other than English.
The
district prohibits active or passive support for acts of harassment,
intimidation, or bullying. Pupils are encouraged to support other pupils
who:
1. Walk away from acts of harassment, intimidation, and bullying when they see them;
2. Constructively attempt to stop acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying;
3. Provide support to pupils who have been subjected to harassment, intimidation, or bullying; and
4. Report acts of harassment, intimidation, and bullying to the designated school staff member.
D. Consequences and Appropriate Remedial Actions
The
Board of Education requires its school administrators to implement
procedures that ensure both the appropriate consequences and remedial
responses for pupils who commit one or more acts of harassment,
intimidation, or bullying, consistent with the Code of Pupil Conduct,
and the consequences and remedial responses for staff members who commit
one or more acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying. The
following factors, at a minimum, shall be given full consideration by
school administrators in the implementation of appropriate consequences
and remedial measures for each act of harassment, intimidation, or
bullying by pupils. Appropriate consequences and remedial actions are
those that are graded according to the severity of the offense(s),
consider the developmental ages of the pupil offenders and pupils'
histories of inappropriate behaviors, per the Code of Pupil Conduct and
N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.
Factors for Determining Consequences
1. Age, developmental and maturity levels of the parties involved and their relationship to the school district;
2. Degrees of harm;
3. Surrounding circumstances;
4. Nature and severity of the behavior(s);
5. Incidences of past or continuing patterns of behavior;
6. Relationships between the parties involved; and
7. Context in which the alleged incidents occurred.
Factors for Determining Remedial Measures
Personal
1. Life skill deficiencies;
2. Social relationships;
3. Strengths;
4. Talents;
5. Traits;
6. Interests;
7. Hobbies;
8. Extra-curricular activities;
9. Classroom participation;
10. Academic performance; and
11. Relationship to pupils and the school district.
Environmental
1. School culture;
2. School climate;
3. Pupil-staff relationships and staff behavior toward the pupil;
4. General staff management of classrooms or other educational environments;
5. Staff ability to prevent and manage difficult or inflammatory situations;
6. Social-emotional and behavioral supports;
7. Social relationships;
8. Community activities;
9. Neighborhood situation; and
10. Family situation.
Consequences
and appropriate remedial action for a pupil or staff member who commits
one or more acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying may range
from positive behavioral interventions up to and including suspension or
expulsion of pupils, as set forth in the Board's approved Code of Pupil
Conduct pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1. Consequences for a pupil who
commits an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying shall
be varied and graded according to the nature of the behavior, the
developmental age of the pupil and the pupil's history of problem
behaviors and performance, and must be consistent with the Board's
approved Code of Pupil Conduct and N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7, Student conduct.
Remedial measures shall be designed to correct the problem behavior,
prevent another occurrence of the problem, protect and provide support
for the victim of the act, and take corrective action for documented
systemic problems related to harassment, intimidation, or bullying. The
consequences and remedial measures may include, but are not limited to,
the examples listed below:
Examples of Consequences
1. Admonishment;
2. Temporary removal from the classroom;
3. Deprivation of privileges;
4. Classroom or administrative detention;
5. Referral to disciplinarian;
6. In-school suspension during the school week or the weekend;
7. After-school programs;
8. Out-of-school suspension (short-term or long-term);
9. Reports to law enforcement or other legal action;
10. Expulsion; and
11.
Bans from providing services, participating in
school-district-sponsored programs, or being in school buildings or on
school grounds.
Examples of Remedial Measures - Personal
1. Restitution and restoration;
2. Peer support group;
3. Recommendations of a pupil behavior or ethics council;
4. Correction instruction or other relevant learning or service experience;
5.
Supportive pupil interventions, including participation of the
Intervention and Referral Services Team, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-8;
6. Behavioral assessment or evaluation, including, but not limited to, a referral to the Child Study Team, as appropriate;
7. Behavioral management plan, with benchmarks that are closely monitored;
8. Assignment of leadership responsibilities (e.g., hallway or bus monitor);
9. Involvement of school disciplinarian;
10. Pupil counseling;
11. Parent conferences;
12. Alternative placements (e.g., alternative education programs);
13. Pupil treatment; or
14. Pupil therapy.
Examples of Remedial Measures - Environmental (Classroom, School Building or School District)
1.
School and community surveys or other strategies for determining the
conditions contributing to harassment, intimidation, or bullying;
2. School culture change;
3. School climate improvement;
4. Adoption of research-based, systemic bullying prevention programs;
5. School policy and procedures revisions;
6. Modifications of schedules;
7. Adjustments in hallway traffic;
8. Modifications in pupil routes or patterns traveling to and from school;
9. Supervision of pupil before and after school, including school transportation;
10. Targeted use of monitors (e.g., hallway, cafeteria, locker room, playground, school perimeter, bus);
11. Teacher aides;
12. Small or large group presentations for fully addressing the behaviors and the responses to the behaviors;
13. General professional development programs for certificated and non-certificated staff;
14. Professional development plans for involved staff;
15. Disciplinary action for school staff who contributed to the problem;
16.
Supportive institutional interventions, including participation of the
Intervention and Referral Services Team, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-8;
17. Parent conferences;
18. Family counseling;
19. Involvement of parent-teacher organizations;
20. Involvement of community-based organizations;
21. Development of a general bullying response plan;
22. Recommendations of a pupil behavior or ethics council;
23. Peer support groups;
24. Alternative placements (e.g., alternative education programs);
25. School transfers; and
26. Law enforcement (e.g., safe schools, resource officer, juvenile officer) involvement or other legal action.
The
district will also impose appropriate consequences and remedial actions
to a person who commits an act of harassment, intimidation, of bullying
of a pupil. The consequences may include, but not be limited to: verbal
or written reprimand, increment withholding,
legal action, disciplinary action, termination, and/or bans from
providing services, participating in school district-sponsored
programs,or being in school buildings or on school grounds. Remedial
measures may include, but not be limited to, in or out-of-school
counseling, professional development programs, and work environment
modifications.
E. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Off School Grounds
This
Policy and the Code of Pupil Conduct shall apply to instances when a
school employee is made aware of alleged harassment, intimidation, or
bullying occurring off school grounds when:
1.
The alleged harassment, intimidation, or bullying has substantially
disrupted or interfered with the orderly operation of the school or the
rights of other pupils; and either
2.
A reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, that the
alleged behavior will have the effect of physically or emotionally
harming a pupil or damaging the pupil's property, or placing a pupil in
reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his/her person or
damage to his/her property; or
3. The alleged behavior has the effect of insulting or demeaning any pupil or group of pupils; or
4.
The alleged behavior creates a hostile educational environment for the
pupil by interfering with a pupil's education or by severely or
pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the pupil.
F. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Reporting Procedure
The
Board of Education requires the Principal at each school to be
responsible for receiving complaints alleging violations of this Policy.
All Board members, school employees, and volunteers and contracted
service providers who have contact with pupils are required to verbally
report alleged violations of this Policy to the Principal or the
Principal's designee on the same day when the individual witnesses or
received reliable information regarding any such incident. All Board
members, school employees, and volunteers and contracted service
providers who have contact with pupils, also shall submit a report in
writing to the Principal within two school days of the verbal report.
The Principal will inform the parents of all pupils involved in alleged
incidents, and, as appropriate, may discuss the availability of
counseling and other intervention services. The Principal, upon
receiving a verbal or written report, may take interim measures to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of all parties pending the findings of the investigation.
Pupils,
parents, and visitors are encouraged to report alleged violations of
this Policy to the Principal on the same day when the individual
witnessed or received reliable information regarding any such incident.
Pupils, parents, and visitors may report an act of harassment,
intimidation, or bullying anonymously. Formal action for violations of
the Code of Pupil Conduct may not be taken solely on the basis of an
anonymous report.
A
Board member or school employee who promptly reports an incident of
harassment, intimidation, or bullying and who makes this report in
compliance with the procedures set forth in this Policy, is immune from a
cause of action for damages arising from any failure to remedy the
reported incident.
In
accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:37-18, the harassment,
intimidation, and bullying law does not prevent a victim from seeking
redress under any other available law, either civil or criminal, nor
does it create or alter any tort liability.
The
district may consider every mechanism available to simplify reporting,
including standard reporting forms and/or web-based reporting
mechanisms. For anonymous reporting, the district may consider locked
boxes location in areas of a school where reports an be submitted
without fear of being observed.
A
school administrator who receives a report or harassment, intimidation,
and bullying from a district employee, and fails to initiate or conduct
an investigation, or who should have known of an incident of
harassment, intimidation, or bullying and fails to take sufficient
action to minimize or eliminate the harassment, intimidation, or
bullying, may be subject to disciplinary action.
G. Anti-Bullying Coordinator, Anti-Bullying Specialist and School Safety Teams(s)
1.
The Superintendent shall appoint a district Anti-Bullying Coordinator.
The Superintendent shall make every effort to appoint an employee of the
school district to this position.
The district Anti-Bullying Coordinator shall:

a.
Be responsible for coordinating and strengthening the school district's
policies to prevent, identify, and address harassment, intimidation, or
bullying of pupils;

b.
Collaborate with school Anti-Bullying Specialists in the district, the
Board of Education, and the Superintendent to prevent, identify, and
respond to harassment, intimidation, or bullying of pupils in the
district;

c.
Provide data, in collaboration with the Superintendent, to the
Department of Education regarding harassment, intimidation, or bullying
of pupils;
d. Execute such other duties related to school harassment, intimidation, or bullying as requested by the Superintendent; and
e.
Meet at least twice a school year with the School Anti-Bullying
Specialist(s) to discuss and strengthen procedures and policies to
prevent, identify, and address harassment, intimidation, and bullying in
the district.
2.
The Principal in each school shall appoint a school Anti-Bullying
Specialist. When a school guidance counselor, school psychologist, or
another individual similarly training is currently employed in the
school, the Principal shall appoint that individual to be the school
Anti-Bullying Specialist. If no individual meeting this criteria is
currently employed in the school, the Principal shall appoint a school
Anti-Bullying Specialist from currently employed school personnel.
The school Anti-Bullying Specialist shall:
a. Chair the School Safety Team as provided in N.J.S.A. 18A:37-21;
b. Lead the investigation of incidents of harassment, intimidation, or bullying in the school; and
c.
Act as the primary school official responsible for preventing,
identifying, and addressing incidents for harassment, intimidation, or
bullying in the school.

3. A School Safety Team shall be
formed in each school in the district to develop, foster, and maintain a
positive school climate by focusing on the on-going, systemic process
and practices in the school, and to address school climate issues such
as harassment, intimidation, or bullying. Each School Safety Team shall
meet at least two times per school year. The School Safety Team shall
consist of the Principal or the Principal's designee who, if possible,
shall be a senior administrator in the school and the following
appointees of the Principal: a teacher in the school; a school
Anti-Bullying Specialist; a parent of a pupil in the school; and other
members to be determined by the Principal. The school Anti-Bullying
Specialist shall serve as the chair of the School Safety Team.

The School Safety Team shall:

a. Receive any complaints of harassment, intimidation, or bullying of pupils that have been reported to the Principal;
b. Receive copies of any report prepared after an investigation of an incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying;
c. Identify and address patterns of harassment, intimidation, or bullying of pupils in the school;
d.
Review and strengthen school climate and the policies of the school in
order to prevent and address harassment, intimidation, of bullying of
pupils;
e.
Educate the community, including pupils, teachers, administrative
staff, and parents, to prevent and address harassment, intimidation, or
bullying of pupils;
f.
Participate in the training required pursuant to the provisions of
N.J.S.A. 18A:37-13 et seq. and other training which the Principal or the
district Anti-Bullying Coordinator may request;
g.
Collaborate with the district Anti-Bullying Coordinator in the
collection of district-wide data and in the development of district
policies to prevent and address harassment, intimidation, or bullying of
pupils; and
h.
Execute such other duties related to harassment, intimidation, or
bullying as requested by the Principal or district Anti-Bullying
Coordinator.
The
members of a School Safety Team shall be provided professional
development opportunities that address effective practices of successful
school climate programs or approaches. Notwithstanding any provision of
N.J.S.A. 18A:37-21 to the contrary, a parent who is a member of the
School Safety Team shall not participate in the activities of the team
set forth in 3.a., b., or c. above or any other activities of the team
which may compromise the confidentiality of a pupil.
H. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Investigation
The
Board requires a thorough and complete investigation to be conducted
for each report of an alleged incident of harassment, intimidation, or
bullying. The investigation
shall
be initiated by the Principal or the Principal's designee within one
school day of the verbal report of the incident. The investigation shall
be conducted by the school Anti- Bullying Specialist. The Principal may
appoint additional personnel who are not school Anti-Bullying
Specialists to assist the school Anti-Bullying Specialist in the
investigation.
The
investigation shall be completed and the written findings submitted to
the Principal as soon as possible, but not later than ten (10) school
days from the date of the written report of the alleged incident of
harassment, intimidation, or bullying. should information regarding the
reported incident and the investigation be received after the end of the
ten-day period, the school anti-Bullying specialist or the Principal
shall amend the original report of the results of the investigation to
ensure that is an accurate and current record of the facts and
activities concerning the reported incident.
The
Principal shall proceed in accordance with the Code of Pupil Conduct,
as appropriate, based on the investigation findings. The Principal shall
submit the report to the Superintendent within two (2) school days of
the completion of the investigation and in accordance with the
Administrative Procedures Act (N.J.S.A. 52:14B-1 et seq.). As
appropriate to the findings from the investigation, the Superintendent
shall ensure the Code of Pupil Conduct has been implemented and provide
intervention services, order counseling, establish training programs to
reduce harassment, intimidation, or bullying and enhance school climate,
or take or recommend other appropriate action, as necessary.
The
Superintendent shall report the results of each investigation to the
Board of Education no later than the date of the regularly scheduled
Board of Education meeting following the completion of the
investigation. The Superintendent's report also shall include
information on any consequences imposed under the Code of Pupil Conduct,
intervention services provided, counseling ordered, training
established or other action taken or recommended by the Superintendent.
Parents
of the pupils who are parties to the investigation shall be provided
with information about the investigation, in accordance with Federal and
State law and regulation. The information to be provided to parents or
guardians shall include the nature of the investigation, whether the
district found evidence of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, or
whether consequences were imposed or services provided to address the
incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying. This information
shall be provided in writing within five (5) school days after the
results of the investigation are reported to the Board of Education.

A
parent of guardian may request a hearing before the Board of Education
after receiving the information. When a request for a hearing is
granted, the hearing shall be held within ten
(10) school days of the request. The Board of Education shall conduct
the hearing in executive session, pursuant to the Open Public Meetings
Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-1 et seq.), to protect the confidentiality of the
pupils. At the hearing, the Board may hear testimony from and consider
information provided by the school Anti-Bullying Specialist and others,
as appropriate, regarding the alleged incident, recommendations for
consequences or services, and any programs instituted to reduce such
incidents, prior to rendering a determination.

At
the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting following its
receipt of the report or following a hearing in executive session, the
Board shall issue a decision, in writing, to affirm, reject, or modify
the Superintendent's decision. The Board's decision may be appealed to
the Commissioner of Education, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:3,
Controversies and Disputes, no later than ninety (90) days after
issuance of the Board of Education's decision.
A
parent, pupil. legal guardian, or organization may file a complaint
with the Division on Civil Rights within one hundred eighty days (180)
days of the occurrence of any incident of harassment, intimidation, or
bullying based on membership in a protected group as enumerated in the
"Law Against Discrimination", P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.).
I. Range of Responses to an Incident of Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying
The
Board authorizes the Principal of each school, in conjunction with the
Anti-Bullying Specialist, to define the range of ways in which school
staff will respond once an incident of harassment, intimidation, or
bullying is confirmed, and the Superintendent shall respond to confirmed
harassment, intimidation, and bullying, according to the parameters
described in this Policy. The range of ways in which school staff will
respond shall include an appropriate combination of counseling, support
services, intervention services, and other programs. The Board
recognizes that some acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying may
be isolated incidents requiring the school officials respond
appropriately to the individual(s) committing the acts. Other acts may
be so serious or parts of a larger pattern of harassment, intimidation,
or bullying that they require a response either at the classroom, school
building or school district level or by law enforcement officials.

Consequences
and appropriate remedial actions for a pupil who commits an act of
harassment, intimidation, or bullying may range from positive behavioral
interventions up to and including suspension or expulsion, as permitted
under N.J.S.A. 18A:37-1, Discipline of Pupils and as set forth in
N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.2, Short-term Suspensions, N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.3,
Long-term Suspensions and N.J.C.A. 6A:16-7.5, Expulsions.

In
considering whether a response beyond the individual level is
appropriate, school officials consider the nature and circumstances of
the act, the degree of harm, the nature and severity of the behavior,
past incidences or past or continuing patterns of behavior, and the
context in which the alleged incident(s) occurred. Institutional (i.e.,
classroom, school building, school district) responses can range from
school and community surveys, to mailing, to focus groups, to adoption
of research-based harassment, intimidation or bullying prevention
program models, to training for certificated and non-certificated staff,
to participation of parent(s) and other community members and
organizations, to small or large group presentations for fully
addressing the actions and the school's response to the actions, in the
context of the acceptable pupil and staff member behavior and the
consequences of such actions, and to the involvement of law enforcement
officers, include safe schools resource officers.
For
every incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, the school
officials must respond appropriately to the individual who committed the
act. The Board is encouraged to set the parameters for the range of
reponses to be established by the Principal, in conjunction with the
Anti-Bullying Specialist, and for the Superintendent to follow. The
range of responses to confirmed harassment, intimidation, or bullying
acts should include individual, classroom, school, or district
responses, as appropriate to the findings from each incident. Examples
of responses that apply to each of these categories are provided below:
1.
Individual responses can include positive behavioral interventions
(e.g., peer mentoring, short-term counseling, life skills groups) and
punitive actions (e.g., detention, in-school or out-of-school
suspension, expulsion, law enforcement report, or other legal action).
2.
Classroom responses can include class discussions about an incident of
harassment, intimidation or bullying, role plays, research projects,
observing and discussing audio-visual materials on these subjects, and
skill-building lessons in courtesy, tolerance, assertiveness, and
conflict management.
3.
School responses can include theme days, learning station programs,
parent programs, and information disseminated to pupils and parents or
guardians, such as fact sheets or newsletters explaining acceptable uses
of electronic and wireless communication devices or strategies for
fostering expected pupil behavior.

4. District-wide
responses can include community involvement in policy review and
development, professional development programs, adoption of curricula
and school-wide programs, coordination with community-based
organizations (e.g., mental health, health services, health facilities,
law enforcement officials, faith-based organizations), and disseminating
information on the core ethical values adopted by the district Board of
Education's Code of Pupil Conduct, per N.J.A.C. 6A:16.7.1(a)2.

The
district will identify a range of strategies and resources, which could
include, but not be limited to, the following actions for individual
victims: counseling; teacher aides; hallway and playground monitors;
schedule changes; before and after school supervision; school
transportation supervision; school transfers; and therapy.
J. Reprisal or Retaliation Prohibited
The
Board prohibits a Board member, school employee, contracted service
provider who has contact with pupils, school volunteer, or pupil from
engaging in reprisal, retaliation, or false accusation again a victim,
witness, one with reliable information, or any other person who has
reliable information about an act of harassment, intimidation, or
bullying or who reports an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying.
The consequence and appropriate remedial action for a person who
engages in reprisal or retaliation shall be determined by the
administrator after consideration of the nature, severity and
circumstances of the act, in accordance with case law, Federal and State
statutes and regulations and district policies and procedures.
All
suspected acts of reprisal or retaliation will be taken seriously and
appropriate responses will be made in accordance with the totality of
the circumstances. Examples of consequences and remedial measures for
pupils who engage in reprisal or retaliation are listed and described in
the Consequences and Appropriate Remedial Action section of this
Policy.
Examples
of consequences for a school empllyee or a contracted service provider
who has contact with pupils that engages in reprisal or retaliation may
include, but not be limited to: verbal or written reprimand, increment
withholding, legal action, disciplinary action, termination, and/or bans
from providing services, participating in school district-sponsored
programs, or being in school buildings or on school grounds. Remedial
measures may include, but not be limited to: in or out-of-school
counseling, professional development programs, and work environment
modifications.
Examples
of consequences for a Board member who engages in reprisal or
retaliation may include, but not be limited to: reprimand, legal action,
and other action authorized by statute or administrative code. Remedial
measures may include, but not be limited to: counseling and
professional development.
K. Consequences and Appropriate Remedial Action for False Accusation
The
Board prohibits any person from falsely accusing another as a means of
retaliation or as a means of harassment, intimidation, or bullying.
1.
Pupils - Consequences and appropriate remedial action for a pupil found
to have falsely accused another as a means of harassment, intimidation,
or bullying or as a means of retaliation may range from positive
behavioral interventions up to and including suspension or expulsion, as
permitted under N.J.S.A. 18A:37-1 et seq., Discipline of Pupils and as
set forth in N.J.A.C. 6A:16.7.2 Short-term Suspensions, N.J.A.C.
6A:16-7, Long-term Suspensions and N.J.A.C. 6A:16.7-5, Expulsions and
those listed and described in the Consequences and Appropriate Remedial
Actions section of this Policy.
2.
School Employees - Consequences and appropriate remedial action for a
school employee or contracted service provider who has contact with
pupils found to have falsely accused another as a means of harassment,
intimidation, or bullying or as a means of retaliation could entail
discipline in accordance with district policies, procedures, and
agreements which may include, but not be limited to, reprimand,
suspension, increment withholding, termination, and/or bans from
providing services, participating in school district-sponsored programs,
or being in school buildings or on school grounds. remedial measures
may include, but not be limited to: in or out-of-school counseling,
professional development programs, and work environment modifications.
3.
Visitors or Volunteers - Consequences and appropriate remedial action
for a visitor or volunteer found to have falsely accused another as a
means of harassment, intimidation, or bullying or as a means of
retaliation could be determined by the school administrator, after
consideration of the nature, severity, and circumstances of the act,
including law enforcement reports or other legal actions, removal of
buildings or grounds privileges, or prohibiting contact with pupils or
the provision of pupil services. Remedial measures may include, but not
be limited to: in or out-of-school counseling, professional development
programs, and work environment modifications.
L. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Policy Publication and Dissemination
This
Policy will be disseminated annually by the Superintendent to all
school employees, contracted service providers who have contact with
pupils, school volunteers, pupils, and parents who have children
enrolled in a school in the district, along with a statement explaining
the Policy applies to all acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying,
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:37-14 that occur on school property, at
school-sponsored functions, or on a school bus and, as appropriate, acts
that occur off school grounds.

The
Superintendent shall ensure that notice of this Policy appears in the
pupil handbook and all other publications of the school district that
set forth the comprehensive rules, procedures, and standards for schools
within the school district.

The
Superintendent shall post a link to the district's Harassment,
Intimidation, and Bullying Policy that is prominently displayed on the
homepages of the school district's website. The district will notify
pupils and parents this Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Policy is
available on the school district's website.
The
Superintendent shall post the name, school phone number, school
address, and school e-mail address of the district Anti-Bullying
Coordinator on the home page of the school district's website. Each
Principal shall post the name, school phone number, address, and school
e-mail address of both the Anti-Bullying Specialist and the district
Anti-Bullying Coordinator on the home page of each school's website.
M. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Training and Prevention Programs
The
Superintendent and Principal(s) shall provide training on the school
district's Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Policy to current and
new school employees, contracted service providers, and volunteers who
have significant contact with pupils. The training shall include
instruction on preventing bullying on the bais of the protected
categories enumerated in N.J.S.A. 18A:37-14 and other distinguishing
characteristics that may incite incidents of discrimination, harassment,
intimidation, or bullying. the school district's employee training
program shall include information regarding the school district's Policy
against harassment, intimidation, or bullying, which shall be provided
to full-time and part-time staff members, contracted service providers,
and schol volunteers who have significant contact with pupils
.
Each
public school teacher shall be required to comlpete at least two hours
of instruction in harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention in
each professional development period as part of the professional
development requirement pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18:37-22.d.

The
required two hours of suicide prevention instruction for teaching staff
members shall include information on the relationship between the risk
of suicide and incidents of harassment, intimidation, or bullying in
accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:6-112.

Board
members shall be required to complete a training program on harassment,
intimidation, and bullying in accordance with the provisions of
N.J.S.A. 18A:12- 33.
The
school district shall provide time during the usual school schedule for
the Anti-Bullying Coordinator and each school Anti-Bullying specialist
to participate in harassment, intimidation, and bullying training
programs.
A
school leader shall complete school leader traiing that shall include
information on the prevention of harassment, intimidation, and bullying
as required in N.J.S.A. 18A:26-8.2.
The
school district shall annually observe a "Week of Respect" beginning
with the first Monday in October. In order to recognize the importance
of character education, the school district will observe the week by
providing age-appropriate instruction focusing on the prevention of
harassment, intimidation, and bullying a defined in N.J.S.A. 18A:37-14.
Throughout the school year the district will provide ongoing
age-appropriate instruction on preventing harassment, intimidation, or
bullying, in accordance with the Core Curriculum Content Standards,
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:37-29.
The
school district and each school in the district will annually
establish, implement, document, and assess harassment, intimidation, and
bullying prevention programs or approaches, and other initiatives in
consultation with school staff, pupils, administrators, volunteers,
parents or guardians, law enforcement, and community members. the
programs or approaches and other initiatives shall bedesigned to create
school-wide conditions to prevent and address harassment, intimidation,
and bullying in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:37-17 et
seq.
N. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Policy Reevaluation, Reassessment and Review
The
Superintendent shall develop and implement a process for annually
discussing the school district's Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying
Policy with pupils.

The Superintendent and the
Principal(s) shall annually conduct a reevaluation, reassessment, and
review of the Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Policy, with input
from the schools' Anti-Bullying specialists, and recommend revisions and
additions to the Policy as well as to harassment, intimidation, and
bullying

prevention programs and approaches based on the findings from the evaluation, reassessment and review.

O. Reports to board of Education and New Jersey Department of Education
The
Superintendent shall report two (2) times each school year, between
September 1 and January 1 and between January 1 and June 30 at the
public hearing all acts of harassment, intimidation, and bullying in
accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:17-46. The information
shall also be reported to the New Jersey Department of Education in
accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:17-46. The information reported shall be
used to grade each school and each district in accordance with the
provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:17-46. The grade received by a school and the
district shall be posted on the homepage of the school's website and
the district's website in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A.
18A:17- 46. A link to the report that was submitted by the
Superintendent to the Department of Education shall also be available on
the school district's website. This information shall be posted on the
websites within ten (10) days of receipt of the grade for each school
and the district.
P. Reports to Law Enforcement
Some
acts of harassment, intimidation, and bullying may be bias-related acts
and potentially bias crimes and school officials must report to law
enforcement officials either serious acts or those which may be part of a
larger pattern in accordance with the provisions of the Memorandum of
Agreement Between Education and Law Enforcement Officials.
Q. Collective Bargaining Agreements and Individual Contracts
Nothing
in N.J.S.A. 18A:37-13.1 et seq. may be construed as affecting the
provisions of any collective bargaining agreement or individual contract
of employment in effect on the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act's
affective date (January 5, 2011). N.J.S.A. 18A:37-30.
The
Board of Education prohibits the em, , ployment of or contracting for
school staff positions with individuals whose criminal history record
check reveals a record of conviction for a crime of bias intimidation or
conspiracy to commit or attempt to commit a crime of bias intimidation.

R. Pupils with Disabilities

Nothing
contained in N.J.S.A. 18A:37-13.1 et seq. may alter or reduce the
rights of a pupil with a disability with regard to disciplinary actions
or to general or special education services and supports. N.J.S.A.
18A:37-32.

The
school district shall submit all subsequent amended Harassment,
Intimidation, and Bullying Policies to the appropriate Executive County
Superintendent of Schools within thirty (30) days of Board adoption.
N.J.S.A. 18A:37-13 through 18A:37-32
N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1 et seq.; 6A:16-7.9 et seq.
Model
Policy and Guidance for Prohibiting Harassment, Intimidation, and
Bullying on School Property, at School-Sponsored Functions and on School
Buses - April 2011
First reading and adoption: June 21, 2011
Revised: 20 September 2011